Kampala, Uganda (AP) — African leaders and activists find evidence that the African continent is at greatest risk from the effects of global warming, allowing poor and vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change. We are putting pressure on the international community to do more to help.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, head of the African Union, said other parts of the world would have to donate half of the $ 25 billion that the continent would need to implement its adaptation program over the next five years. .. The rest comes from the African Development Bank.
Chisekedi spoke before the Africa-focused summit at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday. He was one of several leaders who emphasized Africa’s plight in the face of climate change, despite being the most populous continent responsible for global emissions.
Tshisekedi said global climate change efforts “can’t win unless we win in Africa,” with a population of 1.3 billion. 54 African countries contribute only about 3% of world emissions. This is a fact that is surprising when some ordinary Africans find out.
“This is a starting point, not a cap, and will help build trust and confidence,” said Tshisekedi about the $ 12.5 billion that Africa needs to raise for climate adaptation projects.
He said he hopes to raise money before the next annual climate conference in Africa.
World leaders have already pledged to make adaptation efforts, and it is not yet known how much money will be raised for Africa at the end of the two-week Glasgow conference.
Meanwhile, some African leaders and activists are under pressure. He points out that previous promises to raise $ 100 billion for Africa were never respected.
“We don’t need any more facts. We need more money,” said Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank.
Patrick Verkuyen, CEO of the Netherlands-based Global Adaptation Center, said the situation in Africa is “adapt or die” and the effects of climate change are “at the gateway to Africa today.” “.
British official Alok Sharma, who heads the Climate Conference known as COP26, talked about Madagascar women in Madagascar facing a “dark future” in which they cannot farm due to challenges caused by climate change.
“The need is great and the injustice is terrible,” he said.
Others who spoke on Tuesday included US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said adaptation efforts were a “priority” for Washington. Cristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, called for removing obstacles to women’s empowerment as part of a broader effort to strengthen Africa’s resilience in the face of climate change.
Nigerian Ez Christiana, who lives in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, said it was not important to get together and talk about climate change.
“We need to adapt to it and take it as we see it,” she said of global warming.
According to last month’s report from the World Meteorological Organization and other UN agencies, Africans remain “very vulnerable” as continents warm faster than the world average.
The International Relief Commission said on Tuesday that in Somalia and some other African countries in which it operates, people face a “rapid end of the climate crisis”, including emergencies from current levels of global warming. Said that.
The humanitarian group said in a statement that the international community must invest in climate change resistance and famine prevention.
“We are very worried about the effects of continued drought and conflict on the vulnerable population of the entire Horn of Africa. In the Horn of Africa, the majority of the population eats and sells crops to earn a living. It relies heavily on drought, which East Africa said in its statement.
In Somalia, for example, 3.5 million people are facing hunger after a failed harvest, and livestock-dependent farmers see daily thirst and animal deaths.
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The Associated Press journalist Josphat Kasire in Nairobi, Kenya contributed to this report.
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“Adapt or die:” Africa wants more climate support | WGN Radio 720
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